E-Bike Trade-In Program Would Aim to Prevent Fires in NYC

Why It Matters

The trade-in program follows a spate of lithium-ion battery fires that have killed 14 people in New York City this year alone and injured more than 100 others. There have been 180 lithium battery fires through Sept. 11.

The new trade-in program is in addition to the city’s other efforts to prevent future fires, including a new law that bans the sale, lease or rental of any uncertified e-bikes or e-scooters, along with their batteries. However, that law, which will be enforced beginning Saturday, does not address the many bikes already owned by consumers and now inside people’s homes.

“It’s basically a bridge to a larger solution and also stepping into the places where there is still a problem even after this new law goes into effect,” Councilman Powers said.

A separate e-bike trade-in program for delivery workers — which is being funded with $460,000 from donors, including Uber and DoorDash — has gotten off to a slow start, in part because workers have been asked to pay $700 or more to trade in their e-bikes for new, certified ones. Many delivery workers have said they cannot afford that.

Ligia Guallpa, the executive director of the Worker’s Justice Project, which runs Los Deliveristas Unidos, a campaign for delivery workers, said they strongly supported the city’s trade-in program as a way to make safer e-bikes and batteries accessible and affordable for delivery workers.

“We see this as a step forward to bring long-term solutions,” she said.

Background

The city-subsidized trade-in program was initially limited to just a battery swap when it was introduced in March. But it was later expanded to include e-bikes because of concerns that there were no certified batteries available for many e-bikes used by delivery workers, Councilman Powers said.

While an e-bike trade-in program has wide support among city officials and delivery workers, it is also expected to cost millions at a time when New York City is facing a budget crisis.

During budget negotiations earlier this year, the Council had requested between $3 million and $5 million for a trade-in program, but that did not make it into the final city budget.

What’s Next

The e-bike trade-in program, once approved by the Council, will go to Mayor Eric Adams for approval. The mayor, who has made e-bike safety a priority, is expected to support it.

Charles Lutvak, a spokesman for the mayor, said the mayor would “continue to work with the Council and delivery app companies to ensure the companies that rely on these workers take responsibility for developing the long-term, scalable solution this urgent public safety issue demands.”

The exact details of the trade-in program would still have to be worked out.

The City Council is also expected to introduce legislation on Thursday that would seek to require food delivery apps to ensure their couriers are using certified e-bikes and batteries.